Enjoy Farmer’s Market Season for Good Eating!

If it seems like as you get older you’re just not as hungry as you used to be, it’s probably true. As our bodies age there’s a decrease in metabolic rate, combined with less physical activities. Yet at the same time, it’s important to get the necessary nutrients to remain strong and healthy. Older adults need more calcium and Vitamin D than in their younger years, as well as at least 21 grams of fiber per day for women and 30 grams for men.

A great way to keep getting those important vitamins and minerals in your diet is to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. But maintaining this healthy diet can be challenging for a number of reasons. First, it is sometimes inconvenient to cook homemade meals for just one person, or even two. Especially if you just don’t eat as much food as you used to. And second, it can be frustrating to buy fresh fruits and vegetables only to have them spoil before you get to use them all up. Grocery stores often package food in family-size amounts, such as a head of lettuce, a pound of carrots, or a pint of strawberries.

That’s where farmer’s markets come into play! Thanks to the personalized service at many markets, you can ask to purchase half a head of lettuce, or find someone willing to cut a cantaloupe in half or a watermelon into quarters.

Leafy, green vegetables are a great source of calcium, but who wants to buy a whole pound of kale? Farmers bringing their goods to market will often have kale, spinach, and other greens available to purchase as much or as little as you need.

Plus, you get the added benefit of a little exercise while walking around. And the conversations to be had at the farmer’s market are well worth the time!

Here in the Triad we’re lucky to live in an area where fresh produce is grown practically year round, and farmer’s markets abound. Here are a few to try out, check for one that’s in a neighborhood near you.

Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. Located right off Interstate 40 in Colfax, plan to do some walking when you go to this farmers market. A large covered area hosts farmers from across the region, many offering samples. Open year-round, Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. Located off Yanceyville Road, this market is known for its local food offerings, as well as home-baked goodies, crafts and more. Open year-round on Saturdays from 7 a.m.-12 p.m., And from April 19-Dec. 20 on Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fairgrounds Farmers Market. Locate on the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds complex, this is Forsyth County’s longest running source for locally raised fruits and vegetables. There are also vendors selling things such as flowers, handmade baskets and other crafts, jams, jellies, honey, and more. Open year-round, Saturdays, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Planning for Financial Stability – Financial Planning isn’t only for the Young

Throughout your 30s and 40s, financial planning is a big topic. From human resources meetings at work to information at the bank, everywhere you’re bombarded with information about savings accounts, 401Ks, Roth retirement accounts, etc. That’s the stage in life where you want to make sure you’re putting enough money away in your retirement account so that when you finally get to the age you can retire from work, you’re able to live the lifestyle you’d been dreaming of. For some people that means travel. For others it means starting a new hobby. For still others, it might mean having security and long-term health insurance to remain independent.

Whatever your retirement goals, you want to be sure you have the money set aside to afford them, and to live comfortably in the style you prefer. Here are a few things to think about when it comes to financial planning after retirement:

Remember to adjust for inflation. You may think you have enough saved up, but the cost of living is always on the rise. Don’t neglect that when deciding how much money to use each year.

Go over your will and estate plan every year. Things change, especially in families. You’ll want to make sure your will reflects any changes such as divorce or death.

Think about long-term care insurance. It’s not a topic most of us want to plan for, but it’s important to be prepared. Did you know that long-term care insurance will cover at-home care as well as nursing homes and assisted living facilities?

Protect yourself and your money by being aware of scams. Phishing and telemarketing scams, as well as Medicaid/health insurance scams target seniors. Being aware of what these are can help protect your assets.

Financial advisors are a great resource to help with financial planning in your pre-retirement years. But the need for their help doesn’t go away just because you’ve saved the money and retired. Sure, the money’s now there to do what you’ve dreamed of. But you want to make sure it will last. And you want to make sure you have what you need to live comfortably and independently for many years to come. That’s why it’s important to continue to work with a financial planner.

At Piedmont Home Health, we often see clients who rely on family members or friends for financial advice. This can be great in some instances, but with many issues you might want professional advice to make sure your financial future is secure.

If you’re looking for a financial advisor for yourself or your loved ones, here are a few things to keep in mind:

– Look for someone who is experienced with advising retirees and planning for long-term care needs.
– Talk with them or conduct a short interview to make sure you can communicate well and have good rapport. Financial decisions can be emotional, so it’s important to trust your advisor.
– Ask potential advisors what services they provide and what their approach generally is, to make sure their values line up with yours.
– Ask about fees and whether they have a minimum net worth or income requirements.

Choosing the Right Walker: Making the Choice for Increased Mobility

For many seniors, the key to staying home is continued mobility. Being able to get up to go to the bathroom is important, but so is getting out to the grocery store or just making it from one room of the house to another without worrying about a fall. When mobility starts to become an issue, many people will look toward investing in a walker for a little extra support. But how do you know which type of walker to buy, and what should you look for?

Types of Walkers

Standard: These walkers have four legs, each with a non-stick, rubber tip on the end. Standard walkers provide the most support, but can be tiring if used for long distances because they have to be picked up.

Wheeled: You will see standard walkers with wheels on the front two legs, but you can also find two- or four-wheel walkers in a more modern style, with a padded seat built in. Walkers with wheels are less stable than a standard walker, but they are better for uneven surfaces and will help the user get around at a quicker pace.

It is helpful to talk with your doctor or physical therapist about which walker is best for you.

Purchasing a Walker

Once you have decided what type of walker you need, there are some things to look for when making that purchase.

– Grip: You can choose a traditional plastic grip, or foam or soft-grip covers. The softer grips are helpful if your hands get sweaty to keep from slipping. Choosing the right type and size of grip is important because it can put more stress on joints if you’ve got one that is uncomfortable.

– Height: Each walker’s height is adjustable. A walker should come to your wrist when you’re standing up straight, and your elbows should bend at a 15-degree angle when you lean into it.

– Weight: This is an important factor if you’re expecting to use your walker a lot outside of the house. Look for one that you can easily lift into the trunk of a car. There are even foldable walkers that make it easier to transport from place to place.

Choosing the right walker for you is just the first step. Learning how to use it properly is the next important priority. If you are already working with some of our talented staff at Piedmont Home Health, they can help you get adjusted to life with a walker. You’ll be surprised how liberating it can be.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Healthy Habits are Important at Every Age

We spend most of our lives making an effort to take care of ourselves so that we’ll live longer, healthier lives. So by the time we’re 80, if we want to have a bowl of ice cream for supper, why not go for it? At Piedmont Home Health, we understand the need for some rewards in life. But we also understand the importance of maintaining healthy habits throughout your entire life. Keeping up with things like regular doctor visits, good nutrition, and daily exercise can help you feel better, mentally and physically, so that you enjoy your time with your friends and family.

Here are a few things to keep on your schedule and in your daily routine. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Vaccines. These shots aren’t just for babies. The CDC recommends everyone get the flu vaccine every year. In addition, if you’re over 60, you should also get the shingles and pneumonia vaccine. Check out the CDC’s recommended schedule for more details.

Regular Screenings and Doctor Visits. Preventative medicine is there for a reason. If you catch something early, it’s much easier to treat. Make sure to keep your regular doctor visits, where they can keep an eye on your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. And don’t forget those trips to the dentist! Poor oral care can lead to life-threatening illness including heart disease and stroke.

Well-balanced diets. Sure, ice cream for supper once in a while is okay. But it’s just as important in your senior years as it was earlier to have a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You might not need as many calories as you did when you were younger, but make sure the calories you are eating are full of good nutrients that will help you fight off illnesses, manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, and keep you feeling energetic for your daily activities.

Stay active. Regular exercise can help prevent or delay many diseases, and is often used as treatment for things such as arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes. Exercise can also help improve balance and help people who have difficulty walking. An added benefit is that if you sign up for a class, like water aerobics or Tai Chi, you also get a chance to socialize with other people, another boost for your mental health. Check with the Senior Resources of Guilford or Senior Services of Forsyth County for classes available in your area. Or just get outside and take a walk!

There’s no better time to take advantage of our area’s walking trails than in the spring. Here are a few of our favorites:

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

End of Life Planning: Get the Conversation Started

Do you know what you want the doctors to do if you were in a coma? Or how your treatment should proceed if you have a terminal illness and can no longer make decisions for yourself? And if you know, do your loved ones? The truth of the matter is, most of us avoid making plans for those end of life situations. After all, no one wants to think of getting sick and dying. But in our experience here at Piedmont Home Health, everyone benefits when a person’s wishes are made known. It not only helps bring peace of mind to the person making the plans, but can also help ease the stress and burden placed on loved ones when those situations occur.

It’s never too early to have the conversation and draw up a health care power of attorney, a health care agency document and a living will. If you’re ever in a serious accident, have surgery or get a serious illness, you will need these documents. And if you’re helping care for an aging parent or loved one, be sure they have these documents on file with their primary care physician.

Here are a few ideas to get the conversation started:

1. Talk about your favorite hymns. Hymns and prayers are often a part of memorial services. Start out with asking your loved one their favorite hymn, and why they like it. Then offer your favorites, and mention you would like them at your funeral. It is relatively easy to work the conversation from making wishes known about a funeral service to talking about other things like life support and power of attorney.

2. Let Hollywood help. Watching a move together might help introduce the topic. The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, is a good one to try. Labeled both a drama and a comedy, the plot follows two men who escape from a cancer ward for a last hurrah-type road trip.

3. Use real-life examples. You might say, “Remember how hard it was for Aunt Susie’s kids to decide whether to agree to a feeding tube or not?” Remind your parents about the stress of that situation, and use it to show how planning ahead and having the conversation early can help keep a bad situation from becoming worse.

Once you’ve had the conversation and have some clear plans laid out, it’s time to create the documents and get them on file. We’re lucky to have a great resource in our area, Got Plans. This organization not only has a wealth of information on their website, but they also conduct workshops around the Triad to help people get started with making end of life plans. You can also talk with your caregiver from Piedmont Home Health, who will be glad to get you the information you need to get all your affairs in order.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Is Dementia the New Heart Disease?

After years of building awareness and educational outreach on the effects of heart disease, the nation has seen a great reduction in heart disease since the 1960s.

That is great news. But it led to another interesting finding. As people live longer, and maybe healthier lives without the risk of dying from a heart attack, there are other things that will begin to become a greater problem. One of these is dementia.

Memory loss can be hastened by failing hearing or degenerating neurons, things that naturally occur as people get older. It can also be caused by clogged or hardened arteries.

There are different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy Body dementia. The symptoms vary, but over-arching symptoms of dementia include:

– Memory loss
– Trouble recalling events or recognizing people and places
– Trouble finding the right words
– Problems planning and carrying out every-day tasks
– Trouble controlling moods or behaviors.
– Not keeping up personal care such as grooming or bathing.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. There are many medications that can help with reducing symptoms associated with dementia. It can also be challenging as a caregiver for a person with dementia.

Here at Piedmont HomeHealth, we understand what you’re going through. You might need help or support to continue to give your loved ones the best possible care. Our staff is fully trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and we take great pride in our compassion and patience with each and every client.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Top Apps for Seniors

We often think that technology and seniors don’t mix. Even Apple has poked fun at itself in a German commercial highlighting the idea that older generations often don’t know what to do with technology. In the commercial, a woman gives her father an iPad, and he proceeds to use it as a cutting board before putting it into the dishwasher. But a lot of times seniors are ready and willing to learn about new technology, especially if it enhances their lives. And it’s not as foreign as you might think, many seniors retired from careers where they were using computers and other forms of technology in their daily life.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a list of apps that are helpful or fun for seniors And with these loaded on their tablet, maybe Papa won’t be putting the iPad in the dishwasher!

FunBridge (Apple and Android). Bridge is a card game that’s as much social as it is about the cards, but with this app you don’t have to have a foursome present in order to play.

Solitaire. There are plenty of solitaire games out there, this is just one. Kids might like playing Subway Surfer and Angry Birds, but card games are more appealing to the older set, and a great way to help them get comfortable to using a tablet.

Pandora or iHeart Radio. Load one of these on your tablet, and you can listen to music from the 40s or 50s without having to worry about switching out CDs or hoping an “oldies” radio station will play the songs you love.

Magnifying Glass Flashlight. Forget having to keep up with reading glasses. This app allows your device to enlarge print on anything.

Pillboxie. This app not only helps you remember when to take your medicine, it also has images so you know you’re taking the right pill.

These apps are not only useful and fun, they can be a great way to encourage interaction with your loved ones. After all, you have to spend time teaching them how to use the device and showing them the features on each app. It’s a great way for grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to connect with their family.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Maintaining Independence

According to the CDC, incontinence affects about 50% of Americans age 65 and older. Due to its prevalence, many people assume that incontinence is just a normal part of the aging process. But incontinence isn’t an isolated issue. Older adults suffering from incontinence may also find themselves isolated and depressed. In fact, there is a direct correlation between incontinence and depression. For many people, having an accident in public is highly embarrassing, and in order to avoid a chance for that type of incident to occur, people suffering from incontinence end up staying home, becoming less social, and therefore becoming depressed.

Understanding the Options

The key to avoiding the pitfalls of incontinence comes in understanding the nature of the issue and seeking treatment, rather than allowing acceptance.

Urge incontinence: A person has a sudden need to urinate and can’t hold it.

Overflow incontinence: urine leaks for a bladder which is always full. This can be from an enlarged prostrate, or an effect of diabetes or a spinal cord injury.

Functional incontinence: Arthritis or another medical issue makes it hard to get to the bathroom in time.

For all four types of incontinence, there are treatments available. Some people find great help in behavioral therapies, which includes a schedule for going to the bathroom. There are also exercises that can help strengthen bladder control, medicines to control symptoms, and even surgery as an option.

Also, improved incontinence products are helping older Americans avoid the social isolation and depression linked with incontinence. Products that look and feel like underwear make people feel more comfortable going out in public even if there’s a chance of an accident. There are even services that can deliver these products to your door, to avoid the embarrassment of making purchases at the store.

Don’t Let Incontinence Keep You Home

At Piedmont Home Health, our priority is helping our clients lead healthy lives and continue to participate in activities they enjoy as long as they are able. Sometimes that includes helping clients understand their incontinence symptoms and learn ways to manage or treat them.

We also understand that many children with elderly parents might feel uncomfortable dealing with the effects of incontinence as their parents age, and that’s where our services can be of help.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Sleep Changes and the Elderly

Getting a good night’s sleep is important at any age. Sleep affects our mood, our immune system and our physical abilities, and interrupted sleep or not enough sleep can hurt all three of those. Many people assume that as you get older you need less sleep, but in fact the amount of sleep a person needs as an adult doesn’t change with age. The problem is that as we age it becomes harder to fall asleep, and we experience an increase in sleep fragmentation, waking up more often to use the bathroom or side effects of medications.

It is also true that circadian rhythms change as we age. Just like teenagers tend to want to stay up late at night and sleep late in the morning, for elderly people the rhythm changes to falling asleep in the early evening and waking up very early in the morning.

Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep

The good news is, the key to getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t change as you get older — the recommendations are the same. For most people, paying attention to good sleep hygiene helps improve the quality of sleep. This includes:

Sticking to a regular bed time and wake time

Creating a bedtime routine or ritual, such as brushing teeth, dimming the lights and reading

Staying away from caffeine for at least 6 hours before bed

Avoiding napping in the afternoon

Reducing use of alcohol and nicotine

Another way to help improve sleep is practicing relaxation techniques. Activities such as deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation [https://www.anxietybc.com/sites/default/files/MuscleRelaxation.pdf] can help a person reduce anxiety and clear the brain to fall asleep.

Be Aware of Medical Issues

If you or a loved one is experiencing insomnia or trouble sleeping, trying the above techniques can be a first step. But it is important to realize there might be physical conditions that get in the way of sleep, such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea or GERD. These issues are often treated with medication.

It is important to discuss your sleep habits with your physician, and find the treatment or plan that is best for you.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Ease Arthritis Pain with Walking in Winston-Salem

Arthritis affects over 50 million people in the United States and Winston-salem, and it is a common complaint among many of the clients of Piedmont Home Health, for good reason. According to the CDC, an estimated 49.7 percent of adults 65 years old or older reported doctor diagnosed arthritis from 2010-2012. Luckily there are some things you can do to help ease the symptoms, and walking is one of them. Getting regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight and strengthens the muscles around the joints, both of which help lessen arthritis pain. Experts recommend walking 30-60 minutes every day, but if you can’t get out every day, try for at least three to five days a week. Before you start a walking routine, check with your doctor to make sure it is okay for you.

Walking Tips

Wear good shoes. Make sure your shoes have good support and traction, so you won’t slip.

Find a buddy. Your Piedmont Home Health caregiver is a good walking buddy, or a friend who also needs to exercise. It’s not only safer to walk with someone else, it helps you stay motivated to get out there.

There are a lot of great places to walk right here in our own area, rain or shine, any day of the year!

Hanes Mall – Malls aren’t just for shopping! This is a great place to walk when it’s cold or rainy. Check out the mall walkers profiled in Forsyth Family.

Greenways – Winston-Salem is blessed with beautiful greenways just waiting to be explored.

City trails – Whether you want a short track that’s quick and easy or something a little longer for more of a challenge, you’ll find just the right place to walk among Winston-Salem’s many walking trails.

Questions? Contact us, or call (336) 724-1197 to learn more about the services we provide. It might be just what you’re looking for in terms of caring for your loved ones.

Linda T.

Former Client’s Daughter
My mother and I were so pleased with each caregiver. They were each a perfect fit for my mother. I would readily use your service again and recommend you to others.